Small cattle in the funeral rite of the Tesin culture (based on the materials from the Uytag-15 burial ground)

During the rescue archaeological excavations of the Uytag-15 burial mound in the Askiz District of the Republic of Khakassia, the burial complex of the Tesin archaeological culture consisting of 13 burials and four funeral structures was investigated. The materials of the burial complex made it possible to identify two trends in the tradition of burying the bones of small cattle with human remains. Trend 1 was recorded in burials 1, 9 (level 2), and 11 of unit 1, unit 2 (burial), filling 2 at unit 7 (funeral structure), units 15 and 16 (funeral structures). Trend 1 implies the use of animal bones as meat food (remains of funeral feasts, funeral food). The animal bones are separated from the human remains; the skulls are turned away from the human skeletons. Osteological material includes skulls, extremity bones, ribs, and shoulder blades. As a rule, such complexes are interpreted as remains of funeral food or skins with animal bones along with bones of cattle and horses. Trend 2 is represented in burials 2, 3, 7- 9 (level 1) of unit 1, filling 1 of unit 7 (funeral structure). It contains the skins of sheep or rams in close contact with the bones of the buried human. In three cases, the skulls were used as “pillows” under the heads of the buried humans. In two cases, they are associated with the ritual of performing partial burials. Noteworthy is the case when the human head was replaced with a sheep skull. The materials of the Uytag-15 burial ground demonstrate the complex burial rites of the bearers of the Tesin culture. Its important component was the interment in funeral structure or with human remains of the bones of animals, primarily small ruminants. The trends considered are not local and have parallels in other ground burials of the Tesin culture.